Diaphragm-pump.



L. C. MGNBAL.

DIAPHEAGM PUMP.

APPLmATIoN FILED 111111315, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1A 1,17()O7,'7l9, Patented Nom?, 1911.

L. G. MUNEAL.

DIAPHRAGM PUMP.

` APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15, 1911.

Patented Nov. 7, 1.911.

'UNITED STATESY PATENT OFFICE.

LUTHER C. MUNEAL, 0F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ARTHUR S. HAMILTON, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

-DIAPHRAGMLPUMR Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. '7, 19.11.

Application ined :une 15, 1911. serial No. 633,391.

` specification-` This inventionv relates to diaphragmumps such as are employed for pumping uids ofA various characters, and the invention is particularly applicable to air or vacuum-pumps for use in connection with vacuum-cleaning apparatus.

The object oft the invention is to produce a pump of duplex type, that is, with two diaphragme, in which mechanism of novel and simple character is provided for actuating the two diaphragms simultaneously, and to this end I employ an actuating mechanism inv which the mechanical connections are entirely pivotal in character, thereby dispensing with the slide-guides usually employed in pumps of similar type.

In the accompanying drawlngszwFigure 1 is a longitudinal section of vacuum-cleaning apparatus eniliodying a pump constructed in accordance with the present invention, the figure being a sectional view on the line vite-It 1n ttig. 2; Fig. 2 is a right-hand endview of the apjiaratus ot Fig. l; and Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View, on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1, showingjhe connection between the diaphragms and the connecting bar.

The illustrated emlmdiinent of the invention comprises two circular diapln'agn'is 4 and each of which. has a flexiblel member of leather, or othersuitable material, stiti'- cned at its central portion by means of a circuiar metal plate t3 oi less diameter than the ieather portion. 'l`he metal plate is secured to the leather by means otl a fiat ring 7, and bolts passing tl'irough this` ring, the

leather, and the plate f3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. llhe metal plate still'ens the central portion of the diaphragm and ailords a rigid member through which the necessary movements may be imparted tothe diaphragm.

Cooperating with the two diaphragms are concave sheetanetal partitions 8 and 9, which,`with the respective dial'iln'agms 4 and 5, constitute two air-chambers into which the air is iirst drawn, and from which it is then expelled, through suitable inletand outlet-valves hy the horizontal reciprocating iniorements et the diaphragme.

lhetwo diaphragms are rigidly connected together by means of a horizontal connecting-bar 10. This bar is fixed at each end between two lugs 11, which may be conveniently formed by being cut and bent up from the metal sheets 6, as shown particularly in Fig. 3. The connecting-bar 10 is supported and actuated by a pivot 12 at the middle of the bar, this pivot being vmounted in the forked upper end of a lever-arm 13. The lever-arm extends upwardly from, and is integral with, a. rock-shaft 14 which is liournaled in two bearing-blocks 15. The bearing-blocks are fixed to a base-board 16, which rests upon the iioor or the ground when the pumn is in use. As shown 1n Fig. 2, the rock-shaft extends laterally with respect to the diaphragms, and at its outer end it is provided with an-upwardly-extending lever-arm 17., This arm may be pro vided with a manually-operable extension or handle 18 of any convenient length.

flhc pump is actuated by oscillating the` handle 18, thus causing the rock-shaft to oscillate the lever-arm 13. The upper end of the lever-arm traverses a. short are in an approximately horizontal direction and vcarries with it the connecting-bar 10 and the rigid portions of the diaphragms.v It will be apparent that this arcuate movement causes the connecting-bar to rise and fallA slightly in addition to its horizontal movements, so that the movements 'of the diaphragn'ls are not strictly axial. The parts are so proportioned and arranged, however, that each end of this arc of movement of the lever-arm substantially coincides with the horizontal axis ot' the diaphragms, so that, as shown in Fig. 1, when the parts are in their extreme position the rigid portions of the diaphragms are concentric with the peripheries of the diaphra ms Accordingly, the flexible portions of t e diaphragms are stretched equally, that is, to a symn'letrical conical form, thus avoiding any unequal strain and injury to the diaphragme. As

soon as the lever-arm begins its arcuate movement, thus raising the connecting-bar and the rigid portions of the diaphragme, itsimultaneously loosens the exible portions by the salme movement, so that the arcuate movement may be` freely performed without injury to the diaphragms.

As the diaphragms are similar in size and construction, and asrthe connecting-bar is riveted at its middle pointant weight of the struct-ure as a whole is balanced about this point, so that there is notendeney in the har to move t'rom its horizontal position at any part of its path of movement.

The construction just described produces a very simple and etlieient` mechanism in which the usual .slide-guides are unnecessary, and in which all sliding movements areeliminated, while. at the saine time the movements imparted to the diaphragms do not depart troni strictly axial movement to an extent which can be. injurious to the. diaphragms.

The diaphragnis and the partitions 8 and 9 are mounted between and supported by three evlindrical cash;gnie1nbers 19,-. 2() and 2l. these members ha ving annular tlanges at their ends between which the diaphragms and the partitions are clamped by nieans'o'l' bolts. 'The casing-members l.) and 2() are closed at their en ls,and ttzgether they constitute. a vaeun.n-ehamber or receiver into which air is drawn by the pump, these'. easing-members'being emineeted tor this purpose by a conduit. 22. 'lhe easing-members are mounted upon legs lit tixed to the baseboard lt. 'l`he intermediate easing-member 2l constitutes an outlet-chaniber into which the air is discharged from the. punip. and the air issues from this eliamber through an opening 26 at the bottoni. 1

The pump 1s illustrated as employed in .connection with vaenum-cleaning apparatus, being' provided tor this purpose with adust-bag or strainer 2T in therasing-member 20. Access to the. dust-bag is a tl'orded by a removable cover 2S. which is provided with an air-inlet 29. 'this air-inlet may be connected with a Ilexible hosey or with auf.v apparatus from which air is to be exhausted.

In connection with the pump just described I en'iploy inletand outlet-valves of well known form. 'lhe inlet-valves :il are mounted upon the partitions- S and S) to control inlet-,openings therein, while the outletvalves 25 control outlet-openings in the Sheet-metal members ot the diaphragm. The inlet-valves and the outlet-valves are similar in construction. Each outlet-valve comprises, shown in Figs. 2 and 2%, a ttap of leather', or other flexible.material` tixed at its upper end to the plate (3 in position to close three openings 2i() shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. To the lower end of the. Valve-Hap is riveted a piece of sheet-metal 31, which is slotted to engage loosely a headed stud 32 projecting from the plate G. A wire spring 33 fixed to the-plate engages a hook 34 on the memberl 3l and subjects the Valve-flap constantly to tension, thus tending to draw it closely into el'igagement with the surface of the plate (5. A slight .air-pres- `and sure within the puinp,1acting through the outlet-uamings 250, i'orees the valve-Hap away from the surface of the plate, this n'iovement beine permitted by the sliding of the member 5l upon the stud 39. and the.

'yielding' of the spring 33. When the pressure is relieved the spring draws the iap bachV to the surface, of the plate. and any air-pressure outside of' the valve tends to close it more firmly. y f

. My invention is not limited to the embodiment; thereof hereinbefore described and' illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but may be embodied in various other iorms within the nature et' the invention, as it is defined in the. following claims.

l. A diaphragni-pump having, in combination with a easing provided with inletand outletopenings, two parallel diaphragms having` flexible outer portions and rigid central portions, a bar connecting said central portions, and an oscillatory leverarm t'or aetliating the ldiaphragnis. the leverarm being` pivoted'directly to, and supporting said bar. whereby reciproeatingmovement imparted to the bar and the diaphraglns. the bar, except for its eonneetion with the lever-arm and the diaphragms` being freely movable.

Q. A diaphragin-pump having, in combination. w'itha casing provided with inletoutlet-openings. two parallel diaphraglns. having flexible outer portions and rigid central portions. a bar rigidly connectingl said central portions` and a leverarm for actuating the diaphragms, the 1eyer-arin being pivoted direetly to, and supporting said bar at the. middle thereof, whereby reciprocating movement is imparted to the bar. the ba' and the central portions of the diaphragm being substantially balanced at said pivotal conntaftions.

3.1`A diaphragin-pump having, in combination with a easing provided with inletand outlet-openings, two parallel diaphragms having flexible outer portions and rigid central portions, a bar rigidly connecting said central portions, and a leverarm pivoted'directly to said bar for supporting the bar and imparting reciprocating movements thereto in the general direction of its lngth. the path of movement of the bar terminating, ateach end, substantially at tlic-axis ot' the diaphragins, whereby the ditiplnagms are symmetrically stretched at each end of the path of movement.

. LUTHER C. MoNEAL.

Witnesses: A D. GURNEE, L. THON 

